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How do I know what majors right for me?
I am currently a junior in high school. #career-counseling #scholarships #majors #careers
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5 answers
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Carrie’s Answer
I would suggest you begin with what you care most about, and what you're really good at. If you want to make the world a better place, and can accept the possibility of not making a lot of money, look into majors that equip you to work for non-profit organizations or community/social work. If you're a strong writer, you can go in lots of directions -- from journalism, to marketing, to content creation and management. If you're mechanically inclined, consider engineering. The medical field is broad and always in high demand.
Most importantly, remember that most people don't end up working their whole lives in the career their college major pointed to. In fact, many work in jobs that didn't even exist when we were in college! If you develop your own skills and strengths, you'll find many different ways to apply them. Curiosity and a problem-solving mentality can lead you naturally along from one opportunity to the next.
Two examples:
I have a friend who got a B.S. in nursing. While working, she became interested in (and qualified for) critical care nursing. From there, she learned about being a perfusionist. She went to grad school for this, and then while working as a perfusionist, developed specialization in pediatric perfusion. It was a natural and logical path that she found rewarding.
I majored in news/editorial journalism, and got an entry-level job in PR for a software company. PR reported into the marketing department, and when they found out I could write, and understood the product and customer, soon I was writing everything from news releases and case studies to brochures and annual reports. Eventually it led to several jobs as VP of marketing for startup tech companies.
So, start with what you naturally like and are good at, and see where it leads you. Best of luck!
Most importantly, remember that most people don't end up working their whole lives in the career their college major pointed to. In fact, many work in jobs that didn't even exist when we were in college! If you develop your own skills and strengths, you'll find many different ways to apply them. Curiosity and a problem-solving mentality can lead you naturally along from one opportunity to the next.
Two examples:
I have a friend who got a B.S. in nursing. While working, she became interested in (and qualified for) critical care nursing. From there, she learned about being a perfusionist. She went to grad school for this, and then while working as a perfusionist, developed specialization in pediatric perfusion. It was a natural and logical path that she found rewarding.
I majored in news/editorial journalism, and got an entry-level job in PR for a software company. PR reported into the marketing department, and when they found out I could write, and understood the product and customer, soon I was writing everything from news releases and case studies to brochures and annual reports. Eventually it led to several jobs as VP of marketing for startup tech companies.
So, start with what you naturally like and are good at, and see where it leads you. Best of luck!
Updated
Bryan’s Answer
Somebody gave me this advice recently, and I really liked it... Find something you are good at and that people will pay you to do. My suggestion is that you try a bunch of things to figure out what you are good at, do some research to figure out what jobs will be in demand in the future, and then pick a major based on those 2 things.
Judith Quitoriano
Tutoring, mentoring, adjunct prof, pastoral counseling
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Pacifica, California
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Judith’s Answer
I would write a list of my top ten interests, ie, passions. This will give you the reason to stay in school to finish your degree. Undergraduate graduation is a path to a door. It is always acceptable to complete a certificate in an employment possibility after graduating, but graduating is the key. Many students do not complete because they worry about finishing a marketable major. Don't worry. Student loans can be deferred while completing a certificate. Many top schools offer these certificates through remote learning. Focus on getting good grades so that graduate school could remain an open possibility as well. Go for the area you are most interested in completing.
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Patti’s Answer
Pick a field that you enjoy - I have heard if you enjoy what you are doing it is not work. Also pick a field that you have a good chance of getting you a job and one that is broad enough. For example with an English degree - you are somewhat limited to what you can do. But with a major like Health Care Administration the door is pretty open in terms of potential job opportunities. Good luck!
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Simeon’s Answer
I would advise against going undeclared for your major. With a few exceptions in mind, you really won't get a lot of pay off on your degree without settling down on a specific specialization. If you're not sure what to do, a business degree is a pretty safe bet. Try to look at the department of labor's website to see if any of the fast growing career interest you and choose a related degree.